A Long December

It was not an exciting running weekend. I ran 17 miles on Blanchard yesterday, and then spent some time in a warm gym today, much like I did through the last week. A stick fell from a tree and hit me on the head. I don't think that's ever happened to me before. No injury. I ran into a couple sets of friends in the hills--fortuitous--probably because I ran in the middle of the day for once. It is pretty cold here right now, with temperatures rarely above 30 degrees for the last week. My friends said my hat had frost on it. There are big snow flakes dropping from the sky today.
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I have to say, a week later---I am really happy about my mental state with Western. I am already very focused, thinking about it. Thanks to everyone who called. It’s nice to have a race on the calendar to anticipate, to keep me from slacking during these cold months. Last winter I didn't have a real sense of anticipation of anything, and I felt it in my running come February. This year, because of Western, I find myself already going through that familiar mental process of thinking how can I be better, get ready, get more fit, make the most of my time? That’s so good for me, all around, and it is truly part of the “Why?” of why I do the whole ultras thing. Certain events really lend themselves to protracted favorable focus.
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So…last week I picked up a used copy of “The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging.” It cracks me up, because "Before The Deluge" is definitely not a “best practices” example, on so, so many counts. I do recommend the book. For example, here are the Huff's “Rules for Great Blogging”:
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1. Blog often
2. Perfect is the enemy of done
3. Write like you speak
4. Focus on specific details
5. Own your topic
6. Know your audience
7. Write short
8. Become part of the conversation
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Checking them off….I try to blog once a week. That's probably not a lot in a Twittering world, but I don't care. I'm all about delivering the substance. Clearly a lot of substance here. Substance all over the place. My blog posts aren’t perfect--that's obvious, but at least I don't go ALL CAPS. I probably use longer words when I talk than when I blog. The devil is in the details. Satan. My topic is running, sort of, but I’m not beyond blogging about a trip, a book, a traumatic experience from eighth grade that I just need to share about. I own my topic, whatever it is. I don’t know my audience, but I do have 1 Follower. For now. I’m holding off on the Follower picture block though, because it kind of makes me think of Jesus. I probably write too long. There is no conversation here.
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So, I started this thing as part of a New Year’s resolution to get more with it technologically. For a few months, I had Technology Tuesdays. Those who know me know I have a habit of dedicating a day a week to some self-improvement issue. Technology Tuesdays was much more successful than Wasted Wednesdays and Fiscal Fridays. I have to say, a couple years later, blogging has been good for training, and I enjoy tapping the keys and posting the pics. It’s nice to have a photo album of each year, and I’m not one to make it too personal a space, but it’s nice to share with friends. I also like having a page to update with links that interest me, my own little cause forum, and posting a calendar I can aspire towards. So it's ok.

Save Index Town Wall!

Index is awesome--Save The Wall!
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Dear Friends,

PLEASE HELP US SAVE INDEX TOWN WALL!
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On International Mountain Day, Friday, December 11, 2009, we will be holding a series of events to benefit the Index Climbing Fund. International Mountain Day was established by the United Nations as the day on which the world could focus on all the beauty and benefits provided by the mountains.
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The Index Climbing Fund was established earlier this year to purchase Index Town Wall, save it from destruction by quarrying, and give climbers access in perpetuity. What better way to celebrate all that mountains mean to us than by helping save Index Town Wall!
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During the day:

2-hour SELF-RESCUE CLINICS – FREE (but PLEASE donate!)
Whatcom YMCA Climbing Wall, Bellingham, WA
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 12 Noon
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

In the evening:

GIANT PARTY w/ Slideshows and Auctions – FREE
New York Pizza and Bar, Bellingham, WA 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM

10% of food & bar plus 100% of donation, raffle, and auction proceeds go to the Index Climbing Fund.For more information, and optional registration, please visit our website at http://aai.cc/imd.asp.
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Be sure to see the long list of GEAR, LIFT TICKETS, FREE TRIPS and other AMAZING stuff we'll be auctioning and raffling off. (Seriously ... Even we were shocked by our sponsors' generosity.) Sponsors include Black Diamond, Petzl, Kayland, Stevens Pass Ski Area, AlpineAire, the Access Fund, eGear, New York Pizza and Bar, Red Rock Rendezvous, Rock and Ice Magazine, the Whatcom YMCA, and the Washington Climbers Coalition.

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THE CHALLENGE: Save Index! Index has been Washington's premier granite crag for almost fifty years. Its steepness, the quality of its rock, and its clean, aesthetic lines are the stuff of legend. But it is located on private land, and in March the owner, under financial pressure, closed the land to climbers and began to seek buyers. A quarrying company expressed interest. Our beloved crag, apparently, would make fine building material.
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THE STRATEGY: Buy It.
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Enter the Washington Climbers Coalition. Moving quickly, in May the WCC negotiated an option to buy Index for the creation of a public park. The fund must raise $300,000; more than $100,000 has already been raised, and success is a realistic possibility.
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HOW YOU CAN HELP: Raise money and have a BLAST doing it! Come to our benefit events! The self-rescue clinics at the YMCA are FREE and open to the public, though pre-registration (at http://wire.mindfly.com/t/r/l/kjkyhl/jhmdrlid/y) is encouraged. The clinics are worth $80, and even if you donate just $25, you'll be providing BIG value to the fund and learning skills that might save your partner's life — or your own.
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At 8:00 PM, roll down to New York Pizza and Bar. You might win a free PETZL Nomad 9.8mm climbing rope FOR JUST WALKING IN THE DOOR! Once you're in, the first 50 people who buy raffle tickets will get a FREE night lift ticket to STEVENS PASS Ski Area.
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Alan Kearney and Alasdair Turner, guides extraordinaire and two of the best climbing photographers in the Northwest, will give slideshows.
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Then we'll auction off more gear from our sponsors, and we'll conclude by AUCTIONING OFF THREE OF OUR GUIDES! You could win a day in the mountains -- or a night on the town ;-) -- with an outstanding climber and teacher (worth $350). The party will go on until everyone's partied out, and the more you party, the more money we'll raise. So make sure you arrive hungry ... and thirsty!
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I don't know if I've reached you or not, so let me make one last personal appeal. First as a climber and then as a guide, I've known and loved Index since I was a child. My personal passion and professional life have been wrapped up in the Cascade Range for my entire life. Index is a gem, a place of perfect bliss and challenge. Losing it — permanently, irretrievably — is unthinkable to me. We are offering these events to express our commitment to our climbing community and to help protect the climbing way of life. American Alpine Institute and our guides personally are donating their time to help bring about a greater good for all of us. You are welcome to attend the Self-Rescue clinics free of charge and enjoy the party and slideshows for only the cost of food and beer. Even if all you give is your enthusiasm, PLEASE COME! Nothing builds a fundraising effort like enthusiasm. The magic will follow -- guaranteed.
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But if you do have some money to spare, PLEASE DONATE. You can donate either in person at our events, or by calling us with a credit card, or by visiting the WCC website. Please visit our website, http://wire.mindfly.com/t/r/l/kjkyhl/jhmdrlid/j, or call us at (360) 671-1505 for more information. Optional online pre-registration for the events is strongly encouraged.See you at the Y Climbing Wall, at New York Pizza, or in the mountains!
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Sincerely,
Dunham Gooding, Director
Jason Martin, Operations Manager and Senior Guide
and all the guides and staff of American Alpine Institute

Cascade River Road

I went for a Sunday drive today, up towards Cascade Pass on the Cascade River Road, east of Marblemount. I was hoping to get out in some backcountry snow but the road was gated 17 miles in, before it got high enough for any real snow. Great drive, just the same. The River Road had all sorts of old growth, right by the side of the road. I was hoping to see eagles on the way up, and they’re not here in droves yet, but I saw about fifteen. A few were in the river, feeding on steelhead, and then I saw a few pairs circling above. The picture above is of the Sedro-Woolley town Christmas tree.
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Fairhaven Frosty

25 degrees this morning in the Skagit. Brrrrrr. It took 15 minutes to warm up my truck, and I was slightly concerned about the water to antifreeze mix. I lost a $500 Peugeot for that reason years ago. So, I made a game-time decision this morning to do the Fairhaven Frosty. Love the Frosty. I do it most years. It’s a 10k put on by the Great Bellingham Running Club, with two loops for the 10k, one loop for 5. Lots of B'ham and Skagit friends I’ve been seeing at these events for years. The “race” starts at Fairhaven Park, the same place that C-nut starts, and the run then goes up C-nut Drive, take a left on Old Samish, left on the Interurban (trail that you finish C-nut on), and then loop back to the Park. I like the race because I always seem to do it with friends, usually at less than full speed. It's great to just hang out in the cold weather. Last year we were throwing snowballs. Also, the Frosty is a great bounce back run from the Seattle M, and I’m still a touch sore from that.
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Afterwards, it was lattes at Tony’s with friends. Of course I check my phone because I’m curious about Western States….and there’s an email from Alvin. Unbelievable....I got in! It's like a 17% chance. Completely unexpected, except that it was out there in a "you gotta play to win" sort of way. I'm excited, of course, and very surprised. It sure changes things for next summer, as I was beginning to put together plans to visit the ANWR in Alaska, which I still might do.
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So…here it is, reader(s)….the Top Secret key to winning ultra lotteries….the key is to hang out with Dean T. on the day of the lottery. Seriously. It’s worked every time. Same thing happened last year—we were running Alger Alp when the HR lottery went down. Dean’s the real deal. Also, I’m a Pisces. Someone was asking this week, so maybe that matters.
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Actually, my first reaction was to feel for those who didn’t get in. I don’t lead packs, I don’t run races every weekend, and I guess I'm a little self-conscious with regard to everyone else. I think of myself more as a trail guy who likes to run races because you don't have to pack a lot. I feel like there are others who would die for this, who are faster than me, that are more worthy. Make no mistake—I really want to run Western States. I love trails, I read Ultrarunning Mag cover to cover, and this is a granddaddy—that’s why I put in. Still, I really feel for those who did not get in. I guess I’m just very thankful for this terrific luck-out, and I’m going to make the most of it, especially as we sail through these winter months.
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Seattle Marathon

We had good marathon weather today. It was probably 45 degrees or so, overcast but temperate, little wind except heading west on the I-90 bridge, and no rain except on the drive down. I ran a 3:57. I seem to have a way with Seattle of just doing enough to come under four hours each year. Not particularly fast, but four hours is sort of a benchmark I like to keep up as the years go by. This was my seventh Seattle in a row, and ninth overall. I ran a 1:56 first half and a 2:01 second half, which is about even on this course, since the second half has many more hills. The pavement is not my thing, but I keep signing up. I did fine aerobically, rarely breathing hard, but the pounding was tough on me. I miss the Ivar's clam chowder afterwards.
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On to other adventures. I hope to stay busy this winter, maybe focus a bit more on fitness and diet, get out in the snow, and start next year better than this past year. I haven't been too happy with my running this year, even though I know I've done a lot of cool things. My favorite runs have been backcountry non-events. I'm hoping to pick an event or dream up an adventure that I can spend a few months training and looking forward to.

IRC on 60 Minutes Sunday

The International Rescue Committee is featured on 60 Minutes tomorrow, and coincidentally, I'm running the Seattle Marathon on their behalf the same day! Donations can be made here. The focus of the story is the Congo. It is absolutely horrific there right now, and the story is completely out of the news, as far as I can tell. 500,000 killed per year. Widespread rape. Emergency health conditions.

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Dear friends,

As you know, the International Rescue Committee is a lifeline to millions of people in Congo's violence-torn villages. This past summer, CBS' 60 Minutes traveled with the IRC to remote camps in North Kivu that shelter thousands of people displaced by recent fighting. With IRC's help, correspondent Scott Pelley and his crew were able to take a close look at one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and explore the root causes of Congo's chronic violence, including the illicit trade in conflict minerals.
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The segment is scheduled to air on CBS this Sunday, November 29. Please check local listings for broadcast times.
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IRC Fact Sheet on Congo Crisis:
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The Democratic Republic of Congo has been engulfed by conflict for over a decade and remains one of the world’s worst and most forsaken humanitarian crises. Following years of economic and political decline, the war of 1998-2002 led to extreme violence, massive population displacement, widespread rape, and the collapse of public health services. Despite the signing of a formal peace agreement in December 2002, the adoption of a new constitution in 2005, and national and local elections in 2006, conflict and eruptions of violence have persisted in the eastern provinces, causing extraordinary loss of life. Renewed violence in August 2008,
concentrated in North Kivu Province, and an escalation in LRA attacks in Orientale Province beginning in September 2008 led to wide-scale displacement. A resurgence in attacks against the civilian population occurred again during the joint military operations against the Hutu rebel force Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR) throughout 2009.
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Amongst the deadliest conflicts in the world
An estimated 5.4 million people have died as a consequence of the war and its lingering effects since 1998. In spite of the official end of the war in December 2002, approximately 500,000 Congolese have continued to die each year.
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Civilians are the main victims
Over the past months, civilians have been carrying the burden of the UN supported Kimia II operations. Civilians have been caught in the middle of military attacks by the Congolese army and retaliation attacks by the rebels from the FDLR. Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee, thousands of women and girls have been raped, and thousands of Congolese have lost their homes.
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One of the cruelest conflict zones for women and girls
Tens of thousands of women and girls have been raped, sexually assaulted, attacked and abducted in North and South Kivu, targeted by all armed groups with unparalleled levels of brutality.
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1/3 of the population in state of health emergency
DRC is in the bottom three nations in terms of life expectancy, education and standard of living, and these measures have declined by more than 10% over the past decade. Humanitarian agencies have identified 193 of the country’s 515 health zones as in a state of emergency; representing more than a third of the national population.
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The educational system is failing
An international group of donor nations recently concluded that the educational system in DRC is failing and that most rural children do not attend school. Lack of access to primary education, remains a major obstacle to forward momentum in DRC.
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The IRC in the Congo
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The International Rescue Committee is one of the largest providers of humanitarian aid in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since 1996, we have been working to save lives, revive communities and strengthen local capacity for recovery. IRC is a leader in providing critical health and emergency response services to those displaced by violence. We are also one of the most experienced organizations working to address the crisis of sexual violence in Congo. Operating with 750 staff members in seven of eleven provinces, our effective programs are designed to make a long-term impact–helping Congolese reclaim their future through education, training, and community development.
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IRC’s Emergency Response Team is helping thousands of people in need of emergency assistance in eastern Congo, providing medical equipment and drugs, emergency supplies, clean water, sanitation, educational programs, and aid for survivors of sexual violence.
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IRC also works on more long term solutions, bringing together over 1.7 million people in 1,250 wartorn villages, to help them address local needs, design their own recovery projects and ensure that the most marginalized and vulnerable have a voice in decisions and access to services.
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IRC works with thousands of people who have returned home after the conflict; providing medical care, drugs, re-building health centers and schools, providing educational programs, as well as aid delivery for rape survivors and vulnerable children according to the priorities of the communities.
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IRC has helped over 40,000 survivors of sexual violence and their families providing emergency care, counseling and other support services as well as seeking prevention measures and engaging in, advocacy to improve services and prevent violence nationally and internationally.
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IRC is working with the Ministry of Health to provide essential health care for 3.6 million people, constructing and repairing hospitals and clinics, supplying them with equipment and medicine, and training health workers.
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IRC increases access to education and forms community-based parent groups to support and strengthen schools and keep children learning, even during emergencies.

Thank You Anon!

Someone donated $250 on my page to the International Rescue Committee, for next Sunday's Seattle Marathon! That's so awesome! I guess this went down about a week ago, but I was slow to pick up on it. Many thank yous to you, Anon! You are amazing!
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Check out the link to the right. I am running the Seattle Marathon next weekend as part of Team IRC, which is a fundraising effort to benefit the International Rescue Committee in Seattle. The IRC is the perfect organization to support during this Thanksgiving season, as their mission is to help displaced refugees who've landed on our soil, after fleeing terrible situations around the world. Think Darfur, Rwanda, Burma, Somalia--bad things, really bad things. I think their work is the work of angels.
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"From harm to home," here's a brief summary from the IRC's site:
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"The IRC is one of the first to respond, one of the last to leave. For 75 years, the International Rescue Committee has been a leader in humanitarian relief. We mobilize quickly, bringing sustained support to regions torn apart by violence and deprivation. We provide a fresh start in the U.S. for refugees. And we advocate tirelessly on behalf of the displaced, addressing the root causes of violence and standing up for the world’s most vulnerable populations."
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Check out Maggi's story. She's team captain for our marathon effort.
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I'd like to rally a few more donors. The IRC is worth it. Any amount is great, and anonymous is just fine with me. Or email me and ask me about it. Donations are tax deductible, and the charity has the highest rating Charity Navigator gives. There's so much to be thankful for, really, and this is one great way to acknowledge it this time of year, while helping those who really need the help.
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Thanks Anon! And Happy Thanksgiving, all.